NSW · Newcastle Council
Merewether, NSW, 2291
Desirability index
#390 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Suburb snapshot
Merewether is a mid-sized suburb in the Newcastle area, home to around 11,788 residents (2021 Census). Recent indicators show reported crime totals of around 1,192 offences in Jan 2025 to Dec 2025, roughly 101.1 offences per 1,000 residents, median weekly rent around $720 (flats $600, houses $950), 5 school and preschool sites in the area, strong public transport coverage with many public transport stops, a higher concentration of local shops, services, and recreation amenities, and notable planning and development activity on record. Snapshot data also shows parks or public open space within the suburb and hospitals or GP clinics within the suburb.
Population
- Population
- 11,788
- Median age
- 39
- Median household income / week
- $2,287
- Dwelling vacancy
- 8.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 409 of 5,000
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,457
- Employment rate
- 66.7%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 238 / 881 / 904
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- Flats / units (January to March 2026)
- $600
- Houses (January to March 2026)
- $950
- All types (January to March 2026)
- $720
- Rental bonds lodged (January to March 2026)
- 167
Median weekly rent from NSW DCJ rent tables. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Data sources & freshness
- DCJ rent tables — NSW Department of Communities and Justice · Period: January to March 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 1,192
- Against the person
- 199
- Against property
- 779
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 101.1
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 59 residents
- State safety percentile
- 9.3th (lower crime is better)
- Year-on-year change
- +0.2%
Most common offence types
- Break And Enter Dwelling138
- Fraud76
- Malicious Damage To Property82
- Steal From Dwelling74
- Steal From Motor Vehicle246
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Period: Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated on site · Rolling 12-month windows
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 1,132
- Hamilton South Public SchoolPrimary
- Holy Family Primary SchoolPrimary
- Merewether Public SchoolPrimary
- St Joseph's Primary SchoolPrimary
- The Junction Public SchoolPrimary
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Public transport
184 public transport stops in this suburb
- Fernleigh Loop Opp Faul St
- Jefferson Park, Frederick St
- Scenic Dr Opp 62
- Scenic Dr Opp Charlotte St
- Scenic Dr Opp Woodward St
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal (lodged 2020–2026).
942 planning-related records
2026· 72 proposals
June 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Dual occupancy (attached)29 MORGAN STREET MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Swimming pool22 JOHN PARADE MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure5 BERNER STREET MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Landscaping structures24 MYAMBLAH CRESCENT MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure1 CRAM STREET MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Minor building alterations (internal); Minor building alterations (external)72 MACQUARIE STREET MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah (screened enclosures); Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses; Earthworks, retaining walls and structural support; Fences; Landscaping structures89 KENRICK STREET MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
- Demolition; Subdivision; Dual occupancy (attached)44 KEMPSTER ROAD MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)3 NOTT STREET MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool40 WILTON STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation66 MITCHELL STREET MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure68 TURNBULL STREET MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
May 2026
- Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses158 NATIONAL PARK STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Secondary dwelling; Erection of a new structure7 ULICK STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool17 BURWOOD STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Subdivision190 GLEBE ROAD MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure32 CALDWELL STREET MEREWETHER 2291Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Carport3 ARTHUR STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure20 TURNBULL STREET MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure51A MEREWETHER STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool18 PELL STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Dual occupancy (attached)54 SELWYN STREET MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
- Shed; Erection of a new structure; Garage, carport or carparking space67 JANET STREET MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
April 2026
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure45 WILTON STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure; Driveways and hard stand spaces28 RANCLAUD STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure82 TURNBULL STREET MEREWETHER 2291Additional Information Requested
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure31A HELEN STREET MEREWETHER 2291Additional Information Requested
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure6 HELEN STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Dual occupancy; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure44 RAILWAY STREET MEREWETHER 2291Deferred Commencement
- Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)72 CURRY STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Residential Accommodation34 ROWAN CRESCENT MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Demolition; Multi-dwelling housing; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (attached)46 ULICK STREET MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Cabanas, cubby houses, ferneries, garden sheds, gazebos and greenhouses56 KENRICK STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
March 2026
- Erection of a new structure; Swimming pool65 WILTON STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure63 HICKSON STREET MEREWETHER 2291Under Assessment
- Demolition; Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure196 MEREWETHER STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Demolition; Subdivision; Erection of a new structure; Dual occupancy (detached)4 DENT STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure32 HENRY STREET MEREWETHER 2291Determined
- Dwelling house; Alterations or additions to an existing building or structure55 KENRICK STREET MEREWETHER 2291Additional Information Requested
- Erection of a new structure; Balcony, deck, patio, terrace or verandah; Garage, carport or carparking space; Swimming pool44 KILGOUR AVENUE MEREWETHER 2291Additional Information Requested
2025· 145 proposals
145 proposals lodged in 2025. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2024· 145 proposals
145 proposals lodged in 2024. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2023· 167 proposals
167 proposals lodged in 2023. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2022· 189 proposals
189 proposals lodged in 2022. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2021· 199 proposals
199 proposals lodged in 2021. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
2020· 25 proposals
25 proposals lodged in 2020. Individual listings are kept for the most recent proposals.
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · Period: 2020; 2020–2026; 2021… · Updated on site · Daily open-data feed (applications from Oct 2018)
Amenities
112 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- BWSAlcohol
30C Llewellyn Street, Merewether
- Bench (5)
- Rocket MTB SuspensionBicycle
25 Henry Street, Merewether
- Bicycle Parking (7)
- Bicycle rental
- Alice St at Wilton StBus stop
- Alice St opp Wilton StBus stop
- Berner St Near Mitchell StBus stop
- Carpenter Court Aged Care Plus Centre, Watkins StBus stop
- Fire and Rescue NSW Fire Station, Llewellyn StBus stop
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
12 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Campbell ParkPark
- Charlotte Street ReserverPark
- Dixon ParkPark
- Gibbs Brothers ParkPark
- Hanging gliding padPark
- Henderson ParkPark
- Mitchell ParkPark
- Morgan Street ReservePark
- Myamblah Crescent ReservePark
- Robinson Place ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- On site
- Lingard Private Hospitalhospital
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 10/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 10/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
1 state heritage place
- Ridge, The21 Hillcrest Road NewcastleSHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- KU Merewether PreschoolCaldwell Streetkindergarten
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 19
- Parks (OSM)
- 14
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability index
- Desirability score
- 47.0/100
- Cohort rank
- #390 among Metro Sydney suburbs
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Fernleigh Loop Opp Faul Sttransport
- Jefferson Park, Frederick Sttransport
- Scenic Dr Opp 62transport
- Scenic Dr Opp Charlotte Sttransport
- Scenic Dr Opp Woodward Sttransport
- KU Merewether PreschoolchildcareCaldwell Streetkindergarten
- Ridge, Theheritage21 Hillcrest Road NewcastleSHR
- Lingard Private Hospitalhealthhospital
- Campbell Parkgovernmentpark
- Charlotte Street Reservergovernmentpark
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Updated on site
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Updated on site
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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